Lydia Rivera (second from left in group shot) is the newest AARP Walk with a Doc Kissimmee Board of Directors member. SUBMITTED PHOTO
Lydia Rivera, lead AARP Orlando volunteer and organizer of AARP’s “Walk with a Doc” initiative in Kissimmee, has been elected as Walk with a Doc’s newest member of their Board of Directors.
Rivera, a retired bilingual nurse practitioner of over 40 years, has hosted walks since January of this year and made a huge contribution to improving the health and wellness of the 50+ community in Central Florida.
“It started in September,” Rivera said about her time volunteering. “I feel like I work full time because I’m involved with every single event but this is what I love to do. This is a way to spend your retirement and enjoy what you do because it’s good for your brain health.”
“Walk with a Doc” was started in 2005 by Dr. David Sabgir, a cardiologist in Columbus, Ohio. Wanting to do more outside the clinical setting, Sabgir invited patients to go for a walk with him in a local park on a spring Saturday morning. To his surprise, many patients and community members showed up, energized and ready to move. Since that first event, Walk with a Doc has grown as a grassroots effort with a model based on sustainability and simplicity, according to walkwithadoc.org.
Rivera, as a retired nurse, knows these walks are a great way to bring diverse communities together and to help people connect through walking. She’s seen many people, some even an hour away, come to the walks faithfully and become connected with others leading to better social relationships and better health overall. Now, she strives to take this to the next level and expand Walk with a Doc to other communities throughout Florida.
“AARP Florida is extremely proud of Lydia and her accomplishments as a lead volunteer in Central Florida,” said Jeff Johnson, AARP Florida State Director. “She is a consistent advocate for healthy living and brain health through her volunteerism and is very deserving of this honor.”
Rivera was recruited to join Walk with a Doc by her daughter and AARP Orlando Associate State Director of Outreach and Engagement, Yazmin Alfonso. Alfonso and her mother founded AARP’s Walk with a Doc initiatives in Osceola County to ensure that the area’s population— particularly those in the Hispanic community—had a space to converse with a licensed medical practitioner in their own language. In a world where lack of insurance, language barriers, and immigration status all play a role in receiving primary care, Rivera’s monthly Walk with a Docs are a place to gather, exercise, and learn as a community.
“Lydia doesn’t just talk about healthy living—she lives it every day, inspiring others through her tireless commitment and passion for the cause,” Alfonso expressed. “Her journey is a true testament to the power of living with purpose and heart.”
Rivera says she always makes herself available to others who need the community and the connections it brings. She has a drive to make an impact and reach other people to come together and make change for all those around her. Rivera’s determination shows in how far she’ll go to pick someone up so that they can be apart of it and through her guidance in explaining how these monthly walks can potentially change a person for the better.
“My goal: to bring this to more communities, and help more people to be healthy and keep connected.” Rivera said. “I offer myself to pick up people who have problems with transportation… they actually see the connection and are needing other people—they’re interested.”
Rivera’s passion for Walk with a Doc is only growing; in fact, AARP Florida has announced she will be hosting a new set of AARP-sponsored walks in Brevard County beginning in January 2025. Now, even more residents in Central Florida will be able to receive her care and take a step towards a healthier future.
“We’ve been planning this for six months.” Rivera stated. “We’re looking forward to more events across Florida.”
For more information on AARP’s Walk with a Doc initiatives, visit www.aarp.org/ WWADFL.
